Monday links: tourney time

So I suppose it wasn't much of a surprise — given that we didn't really need the game and we've always played poorly in Oxford — that we played like garbage Saturday in a season-ending loss to Ole Miss. It's still pretty disappointing, given that the loss cost us a bye in the SEC Tournament, not to mention forcing us to play South Carolina, which will ultimately affect our RPI negatively, regardless of the outcome. The loss was, frankly, the most disappointing effort this season since that South Carolina game. Which is sort of apropos.)

It was bad all the way around. 

(By the by, if you're interested in UAB, you can read a preview of the C-USA Tourney here. Tough year for the Blazers, as well.)

— Also bad: The baseball team, which split two during the week vs. South Alabama and Southern Miss (getting drilled in that one) then dropping 2 of 3 at Tulane. Admittedly, Tulane is pretty good. Even so, that Tuesday matchup vs. Auburn in Montgomery looms pretty large, even if it technically doesn't count in the standings. 

— On a brighter note, our softball squad — ranked No. 1 in the nation — beat UAB this weekend, to run its record to 17-0. No kidding.

(The gymnasts lost to Oklahoma, for the record, even though our scoring was the best it's been all season. You figure it out.)

— Football related things: Chase Goodbread examines the receiver position before spring; and Nick Saban discusses Trent Richardson's superhuman abilities. Just because, let's relive a few of them.

— Non-Alabama stuff: New Orleans, which barely played a lick of defense the past three years, apparently had bounties on its opponents; two of Atlanta's best young pitchers got shelled yesterday; and Bob Ryan breaks down Sunday's exquisite Celtics-Knicks game as only he can.